“If it is not fun, why do it?” I read this quote on the shirt of a fellow gym member as she walked by. Since I immediately disagreed with it, I knew it would make a good topic.
Why don’t I like it? It is an immature and superficial thought. It reminds me of the story about a child who became upset while playing with friends. “If you’re not good to me, I will pick up all my toys, and go home.”
The first question the quote raised in me was: What do they mean by fun? Then I wondered how could any successful person restrict themselves to only that which is fun? Isn’t it more important to engage in work and activities that we feel are worthwhile, contributory and service-oriented?
If fun is the over riding criteria for engagement, how would we ever stretch ourselves beyond our current capacities? Deep, concentrated thought and learning actually hurts sometime. How is that fun? How would we endure the challenges, setbacks and temporary failures that every person who takes a risk must eventually experience? I’ve never found it much fun to lose money or to have to start over after weeks or months of effort don’t work as planned. Having and raising children is not always fun, however many parents feel it is a worthy and satisfying endeavor.
Perhaps a sedentary, sense-oriented, risk-averse person, who will not make a commitment or accept responsibility, could live by this quote. Beyond that, I can’t see how or why one would want to.
Maybe the shirt should say: “If it doesn’t make me a better, stronger, more competent person, why do it?” I know that isn’t as “quippy.” However, don’t they reflect more of what you want out of life? Is all you really want to experience in life only that which you consider fun?
It sounds like I am against fun – I say, that isn’t true. I enjoy fun times. I enjoy laughing and playing with others in appropriate ways. I have fun fishing, walking with my family, seeing or creating plays on words. Don’t you have many ways that you have fun, too? I just think it isn’t productive to confuse fun with a fulfilling life. Certainly, fun is part of a balanced life. Do you think it should be the main determinant of how we live our lives?
I can see how you might say I’ve overreacted to a harmless T-shirt. That is partially true. However, I see many people who live a superficially, self-indulgent, external life. This often makes me sad. Don’t they miss the point and opportunity of a life well lived in pursuit of continuous self-improvement and service to others?
Tim O’Brien writes continuing-education courses and presents seminars on stress management.
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